
Varshini Skantharajah (She/Her)
MEd, Registered Psychotherapist
Counsellor's Gender:
Woman, Cisgender
Ethno-Racial Identity:
South Asian
In this space I welcome working with different issues however ‘big’ or ‘small’, whether the present or past. Sometimes this looks like anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, trauma (incl. intergenerational, racial, PTSD, etc.), navigating personal or professional relationships, reinforcing one’s sense of self (self-worth, self-love, self-esteem, inadequacy, etc.), life transitions, and loss. As we work together, I believe in creating a safe, compassionate, open and supportive space with you for us to share, delve deeper and integrate your experience. As we explore, I may use different approaches such as: relational therapy, emotion-focused therapy, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, person-centered therapy and strengths-based therapy, within a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive framework. Alongside our conversations in-session, we may collaborate on incorporating coping skills, regulation skills and somatic techniques. I completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology at OISE, University of Toronto, and completed additional certification in Emotion-Focused Therapy Level II (Emotion Focused Therapy Clinic), as well as a Certificate in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies (Collectively Rooted). Reaching out is a courageous act. I thank you for considering me to share this with you, and encourage you to reach out for a free consultation should you want to explore the possibility of working together.

Communities Served
South Asian Individuals

Approximate Wait Time
1-3 Days
Therapist Session Availability
Weekdays, Daytime - 9:00am - 1:00pm, Weekdays, Daytime - 2:00pm - 5:00pm, Weekdays, Evening - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
In-person therapy available on Tuesdays
In-person therapy available on Tuesdays
Locations
You need your Unique Client Identification Number (UCIN) and approved sessions in order to book sessions with this counsellor. If you don’t have this information, contact a Care Navigator here before reaching out to this counsellor.
455 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 2J2
Accessibility
Scent-Free Environment
My practice at a glance
5 Year(s) of Experience
Available both in-person and online

Age Group Served
Adults (18+)
Array
(
[0] => Abuse
[1] => Acute Incident / Stressor
[2] => Adjustment
[3] => Anti-Arab Racism
[4] => Anti-Black Racism
[5] => Anti-Asian Racism
[6] => Anti-Latinx Racism
[7] => Anxiety
[8] => Anxiety - Social
[9] => Anxiety and Depression
[10] => Anxiety and Panic Attacks
[11] => Anxiety and Stress
[12] => Assertiveness
[13] => Body Image
[14] => Bullying - At School
[15] => Bullying - In the Workplace
[16] => Communication
[17] => Couples Issues
[18] => Depression
[19] => Discrimination
[20] => Impulse Control & Conduct
[21] => Dissociative symptoms and/or disorder
[22] => Emotion Regulation
[23] => Family Dysfunction
[24] => General Wellbeing / Wellness
[25] => Gradual Return to Work
[26] => Grief & Bereavement
[27] => Insomnia / Sleep Disorders
[28] => Islamophobia
[29] => Life Transitions
[30] => Low Self-esteem and Self-confidence
[31] => Moral Injury
[32] => Navigating Colonized Environments
[33] => Personal Growth
[34] => Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
[35] => Racism
[36] => Relationship Problems
[37] => School Problems
[38] => Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
[39] => Self-Esteem and Identity Issues
[40] => Social Skills Development
[41] => Stress
[42] => Stress - Occupational Injury
[43] => Stress Management / Relaxation
[44] => Suicidal Ideation
[45] => Supportive Therapy
[46] => Systemic Discrimination
[47] => Trauma
[48] => Work-Related Issues
)
Conditions Treated
Abuse, Acute Incident / Stressor, Adjustment, Anti-Arab Racism, Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Asian Racism, Anti-Latinx Racism, Anxiety, Anxiety - Social, Anxiety and Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Stress, Assertiveness, Body Image, Bullying - At School, Bullying - In the Workplace, Communication, Couples Issues, Depression, Discrimination, Impulse Control & Conduct, Dissociative symptoms and/or disorder, Emotion Regulation, Family Dysfunction, General Wellbeing / Wellness, Gradual Return to Work, Grief & Bereavement, Insomnia / Sleep Disorders, Islamophobia, Life Transitions, Low Self-esteem and Self-confidence, Moral Injury, Navigating Colonized Environments, Personal Growth, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Racism, Relationship Problems, School Problems, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Esteem and Identity Issues, Social Skills Development, Stress, Stress - Occupational Injury, Stress Management / Relaxation, Suicidal Ideation, Supportive Therapy, Systemic Discrimination, Trauma, Work-Related Issues
Language Spoken
English

Therapeutic Approaches
Attachment, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eclectic, Emotion-focused Therapy (EFT), Existential/Humanistic, Narrative, Short-Term Dynamic, Solution-focused Therapy (SFT), Trauma Focused or Trauma-informed Approaches

Gender Identity
Woman, Cisgender
Ethno-Racial Identity
South Asian
Sexual Orientation
Straight or Heterosexual
Lived Experiences
A Member of a Racialized Community
Locations
You need your Unique Client Identification Number (UCIN) and approved sessions in order to book sessions with this counsellor. If you don’t have this information, contact a Care Navigator here before reaching out to this counsellor.
455 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 2J2
Accessibility
Scent-Free Environment